The US Air Force is actively working to rejuvenate its fighter fleet. The service intends to retire more than half of the fourth-generation F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft in the coming years.
What is known
The budget documents say that the US Air Force wants to keep only 99 F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. The service plans to invest in aircraft upgrades by adding Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) technology.
EPAWSS is developed by BAE Systems. The complex provides maximum situational awareness, helping pilots more effectively detect, identify and quickly respond to potential threats.
The F-15E is equipped with the F100-PW-229 or F100-PW-220 engine, depending on the upgrade level. The power plant was developed by Pratt & Whitney. In total, the US Air Force has 218 fighters, the average age of which is 30 years.
The service intends to abandon 119 Strike Eagle aircraft. The US Air Force wants to keep only newer fourth-generation fighters in service, which are equipped with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines.
The F-15E fleet will be reduced to 99 aircraft by fiscal year 2028 (FY). At the same time, the US Air Force will not retire fighters in either FY2023 or FY2024. The rejuvenation of the fleet will be achieved not only by decommissioning old aircraft, but also by purchasing new ones. In particular, the F-15EX Eagle II and F-35 Lightning II.
Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine
2023-07-14 23:00:45
#Air #Force #write #fourthgeneration #F15E #Strike #Eagle #fighters #upgrade #remaining #aircraft
